Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Mansion at Mount Vernon

Traveling with a disability to the beach or a historic site may seem nerve-racking and uncomfortable. However, with advances in technology and awareness, many places are more accessible than you think.

We’ve compiled a list of places that prove traveling can be limitless when you look in the right places.

Beaches

Listening to the sound of crashing waves, breathing the fresh salty air and feeling sand between your toes is experiencing nature at its finest. Many beach destinations across the U.S. are accessible and offer activities such as pier fishing, hiking or picnicking. Some of the most popular spots are Hanauma Bay, Coronado Central Beach, Rehoboth Beach and South Padre Island.

Hanauma Bay, one of the most spectacular natural resources in Hawaii and the first Marine Life Conservation District in the state, loans out special beach wheelchairs free of charge. Beach wheelchairs are lighter wheelchairs with different wheels that are designed for easy pushing on the sand. All of the facilities are designed to be completely accessible to disabled guests, including city buses and beach-area trams—see here for additional information on Hanauma Bay’s accessibility.

From San Diego to Los Angeles, the California coast offers a plethora of beach options such as Coronado Central Beach, which was featured in the classic film "Some Like It Hot" with Marilyn Monroe. Voted one of America’s finest beaches, this shimmery beach literally sparkles thanks to the mineral mica. Power and manual beach wheelchairs are available at no cost. For a guide on the many other wheelchair-accessible destinations in California, check out wheelingcalscoast.org.

Head over to the “Nation’s Summer Capital,” Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. Historically branded as the getaway choice for beachgoers from Washington, D.C., visitors worldwide flock yearly to the beach town, which hosts many award-winning events. Accessible boardwalk and beach wheelchairs are available, as well as handicap parking spaces throughout the city. Read about their handicap beach access here.

South Padre Island, which holds the title of Sand Castle Capital of the World, is known for its clean beaches and clear water. The Lone Star State’s very own tropical getaway, South Padre Island offers 300+ days of sunshine and also hosts the largest saltwater fishing tournament in the state, the Texas International Fishing Tournament. In addition, South Padre Island beaches were declared the most accessible in Texas by former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson with the addition of Mobi-Chairs. Mobi-Chairs are wheelchairs that allow those with special needs to not only enjoy the beach but also get in the water. Half of the 24 beach accesses have Mobi-Mats—portable and removable rollout access pathways—for easier access. To view the Texas Beach Accessibility Guide, visit here.

Theme Parks

Millions of people flock to theme parks seeking thrills in a fantasy world away from reality. Theme parks might seem like they can’t be accessible, but most offer experiences to ensure you get your ticket’s worth.

Texas boasts Morgan’s Wonderland, the only theme park in the world where every single ride is completely accessible to guests with disabilities. They offer free admission to those with certain special needs, such as Down Syndrome, deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, autism (including Asperger Syndrome), orthopedic impairment, muscular dystrophy, seizure disorder (including epilepsy), sensory integration disorder, Tourette Syndrome and more. Hop on a sporty off-road vehicle on the Off-Road Adventure Ride or go Around The World and “travel” through Mexico, Africa, Germany, Japan, Italy and the Caribbean. Seniors can take advantage of the Senior Fridays program, which offers discounted admission to the park on the second and fourth Friday of each month from April through November.

Disney World in Orlando, Florida and Disneyland in Anaheim, California have gone to great lengths to provide numerous accommodations for their guests with mobility, visual or hearing disabilities. Some examples include: rental wheelchairs, accommodations for service animals, assistive listening systems, video captioning, Sign Language interpretation and Braille guidebooks. For guests that are unable to tolerate long waits at attractions due to their disabilities, the Disability Access Service allows guests with disabilities—as well as an allotted number of people from his or her party—to schedule a return time at a specific attraction that is comparable to the wait time when they first arrive at that attraction. The parks also offer fast passes which give guests the opportunity to bypass the line and their wait times.

LEGOLAND in Carlsbad, California is an interactive, hands-on experience with more than 60 rides, shows and attractions for the whole family. Most attractions are accessible to disabled guests, depending on the nature of the disability, and detailed health restrictions are posted at each ride. Along with the Disabled Access Guide, they also offer a dietary guide online for those who might need to plan out their dining experience ahead of time. Both guides can be accessed via their FAQ page here.

National Parks

In the powerful words of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “There ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no valley low enough, ain't no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you…” National parks don’t have to be impossible, either. Part of The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series, a free lifetime Access Pass is offered to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been medically determined to have a permanent disability that severely limits one or more major life activities.

With a road that crests over 12,000 feet, spectacular mountain environments and over 300 miles of hiking trails, Rocky Mountain National Park is an adventure for hikers of every level. The park has many accessible facilities including scenic overlooks, picnic areas, a wilderness campsite, self-guided trails and more. In addition, service animals are allowed in the park. For more information on the park’s accessibility, visit here.

From seeing Old Faithful erupt to walking on boardwalks above the steaming hydrothermal features of Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces, Yellowstone is overflowing with opportunities to marvel at nature’s beauty. Known as the world’s first national park, the park ensures accessibility to guests with disabilities. Some features include allowing service animals, an accessible fishing site, audio-described exhibits and backcountry camping on reserved campsites for those with disabilities, parents with children under 6 years old, and adults over the age of 62. Click here to view the complete Accessibility Guide to Yellowstone.

Historic Sites

Historic Sites are often not created with accessibility in mind, but in today’s world, many have been adapted with special accommodations—from one of the wonders of the world to the most popular historic estate in America.

Take a trip to England and experience a piece of history. Stonehenge, the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, has been designed to be as accessible as possible with features such as wheelchair loans, allowing assistance dogs, tour transcripts, adult changing area and audio tours.

Experience the story of the Father of Our Country at Mount Vernon. Guests can take a gander at George Washington’s dentures or explore his personal dwelling. A highlight of Mount Vernon’s accessibility features is the small handheld devices that are available on-demand, which provide tour content for guests who are blind or have low vision, and guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. Through the use of GPS hotspots and infrared emitters located around the estate, these devices automatically provide audio description services, assistive listening or text captioning for guests.